Athens International Airport (ATH) published its first-half 2026 results in September: 15.8 million passengers, up 4.5% on the same period in 2025. The airport revised its full-year guidance upward on the strength of this performance, putting annual throughput on track to exceed 32 million passengers for 2026.
The problem is that the airport was designed for around 26 million annual passengers. The gap between design capacity and actual demand has been visible to anyone who flew through Athens in July or August: extended queues at passport control, crowded gates, and delays of 1 to 1.5 hours on departures from the single integrated terminal complex have become a structural feature of summer travel.
The response is a €950 million phased expansion programme, announced to investors and the public in September 2026.
What Is Being Built
The first phase focuses on the North Terminal expansion: additional check-in islands, security lanes, departure lounges, and boarding gate capacity added to the northern section of the existing terminal.
Phased opening for the North Terminal expansion is targeted from the end of 2030. Work is expected to begin in early 2027 following regulatory approvals.
Full details on subsequent phases - which the airport’s presentations have indicated could include a second terminal building or an airside satellite pier - have not been finalised and are not included in the €950 million figure. The airport confirmed that all expansion work must fall within the current environmental planning framework governing the Spata airport site.
What to Expect Until 2030
Until the North Terminal expansion is operational, summer passengers should continue to plan with current congestion in mind. Based on 2026 performance:
- Departure queues: for international flights departing June–September, arrival at check-in three hours before departure is advisable, particularly on weekend mornings and in the first two weeks of August
- EES biometric processing: the European Entry/Exit System is fully operational at Athens for non-Schengen arrivals. The process adds 10–20 minutes at peak arrival windows (07:00–10:00, 18:00–21:00)
- Ferry connections from the airport: the X96 bus to Piraeus port departs from the airport forecourt every 20 minutes and covers the journey in 60–90 minutes depending on traffic. For summer afternoon sailings to the islands, allow 90 minutes minimum from airport arrival to port boarding
One practical note for travellers connecting from regional flights to international departures: Athens does not have a dedicated domestic-to-international connection pier. All passengers pass through the same terminal, and transfers during peak hours should allow at least 90 minutes.
Context: Greece’s Broader Tourism Numbers
Greece’s national tourism figures for 2026 are tracking above 2025’s record. Athens Airport is the primary entry point for most international visitors, handling approximately 55% of total international arrivals to Greece. The pressure on the airport directly reflects strong and growing demand for Greek tourism as a destination.
Our Athens city guide has transport detail from the airport to the centre, to Piraeus, and to the main domestic connections. The Athens airport transfer guide covers every transport option in detail, with current journey times and prices. When planning your flights to Greece, book morning arrivals where possible - they arrive before the peak queue windows at passport control and departure gates.